Slot machines are a pretty big part of the gambling industry. Since they were first introduced in the late 19th century, they’ve won over the hearts of gamblers worldwide. In the century since their creation, slots began to change quite drastically, reaching the pinnacle of their development in the 1990s. Online slots quickly won over even the most staunchly pro-land-based casino gamblers.
Today, online slots are more popular than ever, attracting an ever-increasing amount of people. Not only do they dominate the online casinos of the west, but they’ve also made their way to the East. Gambling websites like https://bigboost.com/in host dozens, if not hundreds of slot games, covering different themes, and boasting some magnificent bonuses.
Online Slots: How do They Work?
With so many new people joining the online slots craze, there are plenty of newcomers who may not be totally aware of how these games work. That is why, in this article, we would like to talk about the setup, mechanics, and technology behind these games. We will also address some common queries, such as safety concerns, terminology, and bonuses.
A lot of people will almost certainly come into this thinking that online slots are incredibly complex. However, that could not be further from the truth. With just a little bit of research, anyone can quickly and easily understand the mechanisms behind online slots. Without further ado, let us delve into the nitty gritty of the iGaming industry.
RNG: Random Number Generator
The pillar on top of which online slots lay is called the random number generator. As the name suggests, an RNG is a software whose task it is to produce random numbers, or in this case, random occurrences. Anyone who has played slots already can begin to understand how the RNG is integral to the slot game; the game relies on random symbols landing in the right order on the reels, after all.
The RNG controls the process, emulating the randomness of classic slot games. Each new spin resets the RNG, meaning that each spin is 100% randomized, without a chance of the games being rigged. Though, when it comes to RNG software, and online slots in general, we would recommend looking into the technicians behind it. Some states’ tech is ranked quite low, and you will want the best for your gaming experience.
RTP & House Edge
Understanding what a RNG is, is a great first step towards understanding online slots. However, it isn’t the only step. The big terms that most gamblers get confused about are RTP and house edge. Many interpret these terms wrong, and some even go so far as to believe that a house edge means that all slots are rigged. Of course, that is not the case. So, let us clear the air on this one.
- RTP
An RTP stands for Return to Player, and it describes the average sum of cash that players have wagered, and that the game will return over time. The key word to remember is “over time.” In other words, a machine will not return the RTP percentage to each player who wagers. Rather, it will return said sum when we take a look at all of the money wagered over time. For example, if a slot promises an RTP of 95%, that means that for every 100 wagered, the game will return 95, over the period of that game’s running.
- House Edge
The house edge is the opposite side of the coin. It is the overall advantage that a casino has in a given game. The percentage here represents the amount of cash that the establishment can expect to keep, once again, over time. So, a house edge of 5% means that the casino can expect the game to retain $5 for every $100 wagered, over the course of the game’s running.
Volatility
Experienced players will know to pair RTP with volatility, in order to get the best possible outcomes. For the uninitiated, volatility refers to the likelihood that a casino will payout, and it also encompasses the size of the payout. The volatility of games is usually separated into three distinct categories.
- Low: a low volatility game will pay out frequently, however, the sum of the payouts will be quite low.
- Medium: a medium volatility game will attempt to strike a balance between frequent and infrequent payouts, and a low and high sum.
- High: a high volatility game will pay out rather infrequently, however, the sum of the payouts will be higher than the usual.
Of course, we can’t neatly place every slot in these three categories. There are some with low-medium volatility, and some with medium-high volatility. The trick is to know which RTPs pair best with which volatility categories. Newbies ought to look for low volatility games, paired with high RTPs, for a great intro to slot games.
Themes
Finally, we should address themed slots, and just what we mean by that. A lot of people tend to be confused when more experienced gamblers bring up themed slots, and tend to believe that they are a whole new category of games. The truth is that themed slots are just what they sound like; they are slot games, with a particular theme.
The theme here describes visual and audio aesthetics and effects that the programmers have deigned necessary to spruce up their game with. The goal here is to create a visually pleasing game, so that gamers, new and experienced, will be more engaged when spinning slots. After all, as exciting as they are, slot games can get quite repetitive.
There are a ton of popular slot themes that you could find online. The most notable are historical themes, that take inspiration from Ancient Rome, Egypt, Greece, and the Nordic Viking conquerors. However, fantasy and science fiction-themed slots are also growing in popularity. Another relatively successful slot category are sports-themed slots, for fans of football, basketball, combat sports / martial arts, cricket and a lot more.
